The Extra Wants To Live

Carl increased his speed and advanced northward. He was not a commander who neglected scouting, and thanks to his soldiers taking turns scanning the area ahead, he was able to detect the presence of the enemy in advance.

"It seems like there are quite a few rebels. They are blocking the road so openly," Carl observed.

"Now that you have taken control of the entire Palton Territory, isn't it natural that the thoughtless commoners would follow you, thinking that you can achieve something?"

Catherine responded, noting that the rebels were more numerous than she had expected, since they were simply blocking the way rather than positioning themselves at a strategic point.

Carl also realized that the enemy knew the exact movement path of the Laurel Unit.

He didn't feel much interest in this.

After all, they would just be sacrificial lambs to lure him to Ishul.

Of course, if you throw them only weak prey, they will get suspicious, so this time, it seemed they had prepared an opponent that would definitely lead to a battle.

"These are well-armed troops. They are definitely trained soldiers, not mere rebels," Carl noted.

"Are you saying that Palton's soldiers also crossed over?"

Jaren muttered softly at the soldier's report. It was a difficult situation to accept. But going one step further, there was something even more difficult to accept.

"There are also knights in full plate armor, but without flags or emblems."

Even if you are a commoner, you are treated as a quasi-noble. But there is no reason for someone who has finally become a knight to join the rebellion.

"You have fallen for the heresy's deception," Carl declared.

Carl blew a hot wind into those who were shocked that a knight had joined a commoner's rebellion.

Heresy.

All heretics must be killed without exception.

Carl had already planted this firmly in everyone's hearts, and now there was no need to even mention what to do.

'I guess he was carried over by some unknown force,' Carl thought, recalling the glimpse of power he had seen in the eyes of the intelligence agent.

There was no reason for a knight to join a commoner's rebellion unless he possessed such extraordinary power.

And without it, there was no way for a powerless peasant to take control and rule a huge countship.

'The priests of the Church of Universal Equality must have captured the high-ranking officials of the Baekjak territory and controlled them from behind the scenes. They may have killed them after they were no longer useful. Or maybe they kept them alive for propaganda purposes?'

Carl combined the information provided by the scouts with the information he had previously obtained and grasped the situation in an instant.

It was all just an assumption, but even so, Carl's broad imagination and sharp insight had always played a great role.

"Hide the horses and carriages here and move on," Carl ordered.

Carl planned the operation on the assumption that his opponents were trained regular troops and that the rebels, who would all be executed if defeated, were brainwashed by the Church of Universal Equality.

The opponent had no way out.

No matter what happened, they had to win.

Even if the cavalry charged, they would not retreat and would not disintegrate.

It is suicidal for cavalry to charge well-organized infantry. Even heavy cavalry cannot penetrate well-organized light infantry. If the infantry can hold out without disintegrating, nine times out of ten, the infantry will win.

The cavalry's flanking tactics wouldn't work either.

Carl's Laurel Corps, already small in number, had ten men removed to protect Harmon, and now numbered just over forty, including the command staff. It's not just a problem because they're small in number.

As the number of units is small, the area of engagement becomes narrower, and therefore, the enemy with a larger number of units has no choice but to have more troops at play. In the midst of all this, even if you try to attack the rear with a cavalry flanking charge, you won't be able to do anything.

They'll react right away.

"Form a line, approach slowly, break through the center, and destroy it," Carl commanded.

That's the best tactic they could use right now. It's a simple operation that can't really be called a tactic, but it's a great idea as it allows you to make the most of the cards you have in your hand.

"Jaren, take the lead in the center."

"Yes, Your Highness."

With Master Jaren, even this seemingly foolish tactic could become the best tactic.

Don't confuse good tactics with complex tactics.

A complex tactic that can turn a difficult situation around is already a bad tactic in itself.

Being in a difficult situation is itself a strategic and tactical mistake, and engaging in a difficult battle is tantamount to defeat before the fight even begins.

A good tactic is a simple operation that can be executed in a winnable battle.

In that sense, this simple tactic of leisurely advancing and killing enemies with Master Jaren's overwhelming force at the forefront could be said to be the best tactic.

"Catherine, take the left. Billford, take the right. I will respond to enemy movements in the center."

"Yes!"

With just a short command from Carl, the ranks were formed in an instant. It was so simple that there wasn't really a line.

Soldiers with shields and spears stood in a square formation, with Jaren in the center and Catherine and Billford on the wings.

Carl stood behind Jaren.

"Milton, stay here. If you are in danger, ride away."

"Yes, Lord Carl."

Milton, who had no fighting power, was left behind with the horse and carriage.

It would be nice if they could take him with them so they could get him treated on the spot, but if Milton died from something like a blind arrow, there would be no turning back.

"Advance."

"Understood!"

At Carl's firm words, the soldiers began to walk in step. Billford and Catherine drew their longswords.

Master Jaren wielded his main weapon, a long halberd, his most confident in close combat. Carl had drawn a longsword, and another sword hung at his waist.

Jaren thought the sword was a spare sword of Carl's, who could not imbue objects with mana.

Jaren already knew that Carl handled mana.

It hadn't even been two years since Carl got out of bed. Just being able to manipulate mana was amazing.

Even if he couldn't give mana to objects, he could still be called a genius.

'I'm not even worried,' Jaren thought.

Only after thinking like that did Jaren realize that he wasn't worried about Carl.

They took it for granted that Carl, who was noble, would go forward without the protection of soldiers. No, rather, wasn't Carl in a position to protect the soldiers?

Chuck, chuck, chuck!

The imperial soldiers walked in unison, their shields swinging in unison, and the wall seemed to be closing in.

Seeing this, a cavalryman holding a white flag from the rebels who had set up camp in the field charged forward. It wasn't surrender, it was saying he had something to say so they shouldn't attack him.